Severe Weather Focuses on South Dakota, Nebraska

It is not just the Northeast and Ohio Valley facing severe thunderstorms this Saturday, but also parts of the northern and central Plains.

A few severe thunderstorms already rattled the Plains Saturday afternoon, but more will follow through the evening hours.

The most widespread concentration of severe thunderstorms Saturday evening will occur across western parts of South Dakota and Nebraska, home to Rapid City, S.D., and Scottsbluff, Neb.

Damaging winds, hail and an isolated tornado are the greatest threats from the strongest thunderstorms.

Flooding and blinding downpours is another concern, potentially creating hazards and delays for those planning to travel on Interstates 80 and 90.

The severe thunderstorms will then spend the rest of Saturday night tracking eastward across South Dakota and Nebraska, targeting Aberdeen, S.D., and Omaha, Neb.

The number of thunderstorms producing damaging winds and hail will lessen as the night progresses; the same cannot be said for the downpours accompanying the thunderstorms.

On Sunday, the severe weather threat zone will shift to Kansas City, Des Moines, St. Louis and the rest of the mid-Mississippi Valley. Building heat, meanwhile, will replace Saturday's severe thunderstorms in and around Rapid City.